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count nouns and non-count nouns

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Anatbs  #456884  Tue, 25 Dec 07 08:47 AM
Hello all,
I have a question.
Is it correct to say "feed the baby some banana"?
or "feed some banana to the baby"?

is the "some" correct? how is it different from other nouns I may put after it?

thank you.
  
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Mister Micawber  #456889  Tue, 25 Dec 07 09:28 AM

'Some' plus the noncount form works with many food items.  When we are no longer dealing with the individual plants or animals, we can consider the foodstuff an uncountable-- often (but not necessarily) because it is mashed, chopped or otherwise de-individualized:

I fed the baby some banana/hamburger (a quantity of that substance)

I fed the baby half a banana / a hamburger (a segment of one of the fruit/sandwich)

  
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Haohaoxuexi  #456979  Tue, 25 Dec 07 04:53 PM

How about food , drink and effort? I saw all these 3 words in the form of countable and uncountable.

His efforts were much appreciated.        He must put more effort into his work.     Make an effort to climb up a mountain.

  
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Mister Micawber  #457097  Wed, 26 Dec 07 05:35 AM

Many, many nouns can be found used both countably and uncountably.

  
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